Rains in Chhattisgarh gas fears of floods in Odisha’s Mahanadi river system
2 min read
By Express News Service
BHUBANESWAR: With the higher catchment areas in Chhattisgarh experiencing heavy rains for the final 48 hours and round 3.5 lakh cusec of water coming into Hirakud reservoir per second, a medium flood looms giant in Mahanadi river system.
The Odisha authorities, which had been ruling out floods within the State, on Wednesday, September 15, 2021, mentioned a low or medium flood is anticipated within the Mahanadi delta area. Though the influx of water from Tel river to Mahanadi has come down, extra water is now coming into Hirakud dam from Chhattisgarh. The dam authorities have already opened 20 gates to launch the floodwater and extra gates are more likely to be opened to take care of the water degree at 628 ft degree if heavy rainfall continues within the higher catchments. The dam’s water degree was 628.33 ft in opposition to the optimum degree of 630 ft and the outflow was 3.19 lakh cusec.
Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Jena mentioned the influx of water to Hirakud reservoir has elevated considerably following heavy rainfall in Chhattisgarh. “While 4.9 lakh cusec of water is being discharged at Khairmal, 5.34 lakh cusec at Barmul and 6.43 lakh cusec at Mundali, a low or medium flood is expected in Mahanadi system. The districts along both sides of the river have been asked to keep a close watch on the embankments,” he mentioned.
The decrease catchment of Mahanadi basin will face a medium flood provided that greater than seven lakh cusec of water is discharged at Mundali. Considering the current influx and outflow, the water discharged from the dam on Wednesday is more likely to attain Mundali on Thursday. As per preliminary evaluation, 23.82 lakh individuals in 4,964 villages below 139 blocks and 33 city native our bodies of 24 districts have been affected in heavy rains within the final three days.
So far, 3,839 homes have been broken and crops in 1.3 lakh hectare submerged. “Breaches in Brahmani embankment have been reported at three places in Jajpur district and another in Kusumi rivulet at Jaripada in Khurda district. Besides, 193 roads were submerged and several culverts damaged. The districts have been asked to submit the flood damage report by September 22 evening,” he added.
Meanwhile, the dying toll as a consequence of heavy rains rose to 4 and two others had been lacking. Two individuals in Kendrapara and one in Ganjam had been killed in wall collapse whereas one other died of drowning in Khurda.In the final 24 hours, the best 125 mm rainfall was recorded at Ghatagaon in Keonjhar district adopted by 122 mm at Bhograi in Balasore, 118 mm at Sabdega in Sundargarh, 116 mm at Sundargarh Sadar and 107 mm at Kakatpur.Though Baitarai, Brahmani, Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga and Mahanadi rivers are in spate, the floodwater was flowing under the hazard degree.
